Cerro de Pasco to Tarma is about 85 road miles (137 km): roughly 2 h 4 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
Full advisory: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Due to safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Distance | 85 mi (137 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 2 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-3N → JU-645 |
| Regions on the route | Pasco, Junín |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
The Cerro de Pasco–Tarma drive in a few lines
PE-3N (60 mi) and JU-645 (11 mi) carry about 84% of the 85 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Pasco, Junín. None of the 3 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Cerro de Pasco and Tarma
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Pasco |
| PE-3N | 4–64 | 60 | Pasco, Junín |
| JU-645 | 64–75 | 11 | Junín |
| connecting roads | 75–76 | 1 | Junín |
| local roads | 76–85 | 9 | Junín |
- Mile 24 of this route: Pasco → Junín (region line)
Stops between Cerro de Pasco and Tarma
Junín National Reserve
Junín National Reserve protects Lake Junín and the surrounding wet puna of the central Andes, along with its ecosystem and wildlife, in Peru's Junín region.
Cachipuquio
West of San Pedro de Cajas in Tarma Province, Junín, Cachipuquio (also called Cachipozo) is a saltwater spring in Peru's central Andes, where the water collects in two salt pools.
Catarata de Pacchacoto
Catarata de Pacchacoto is a waterfall in San Pedro de Cajas district, Tarma Province, in Peru's Junín department.
Arriving in Tarma
Catedral de Tarma
Tarma's cathedral, also called the Cathedral of Santa Ana, is a neoclassical church built in 1954 in Tarma, Junín region, Peru.
Tarmatambo
Tarmatambo, also spelled Tarmatampu, is an archaeological site in the community of the same name in Tarma District, Junín Region, Peru.
More drives to Tarma
From Cerro de Pasco to other places in Peru
- Cerro de Pasco to Aguaytía
- Cerro de Pasco to Tocache
- Cerro de Pasco to Moyobamba
- Cerro de Pasco to Jauja
- Cerro de Pasco to Satipo
- Cerro de Pasco to Huancavelica
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cerro de Pasco to Tarma?
About 2 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 85 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cerro de Pasco to Tarma?
About 85 miles (137 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Cerro de Pasco to Tarma drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cerro de Pasco to Tarma use?
In order: PE-3N and JU-645. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Cerro de Pasco and Tarma?
Closest to the road: Junín National Reserve (nature area, mile 20, 2 mi from the route); Cachipuquio (spring, mile 55, 3 mi from the route); Catarata de Pacchacoto (waterfall, mile 55, 5 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.